Fort Washakie, Census-designated place in Wind River Indian Reservation, Wyoming, United States.
Fort Washakie is a census-designated community within the Wind River Indian Reservation in Fremont County, Wyoming, nestled at the foot of the Wind River Range. It serves as the administrative center of the reservation and sits at roughly 5,600 feet (1,700 meters) above sea level.
The settlement began as a military outpost in 1869 and was renamed in 1878 to honor Chief Washakie, the respected leader of the Eastern Shoshone. It was the only U.S. military post ever named after a Native American leader who was still alive at the time.
The powwow grounds host traditional dance ceremonies each June, bringing together participants from several Native American communities. The Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes both live on the reservation today, and their presence shapes daily life in the area.
A post office, police station, fire station, and fuel station are available for basic needs on-site. Medical services through the Indian Health Service are also offered locally, so visitors have access to care if needed.
The local cemetery holds a grave attributed to Sacagawea, the Shoshone woman who guided the Lewis and Clark expedition in the early 1800s. Some historians debate the exact burial site, which makes the memorial itself a point of ongoing discussion rather than settled fact.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
